Waukegan man drowns while swimming across boat channel

June 23, 2010

A 21-year-old Waukegan man drowned Tuesday evening while attempting to swim across a Waukegan boat channel with two friends.

Antwoine Miller, of the 800 block of South Victory Street, made it about 90 yards of the 100-yard channel, which connects the Waukegan Harbor with Lake Michigan, when he began to struggle, Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Christopher Thompson said.

Both of Miller's friends had already made it across the channel successfully when one noticed Miller struggling and swam back to try to rescue him, Thompson said.

Miller was under the water for about 50 minutes before he was rescued by members of the Waukegan Fire Department, Thompson said.

Miller was pronounced dead at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan at about 6:50 p.m., Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said.

There are "no swimming" signs posted around the area where the men were swimming, Thompson said.